The Human Impacts on Tropical Rainforests
As mentioned before in 'Threats to Tropical Rainforests', human population is becoming larger and larger every year and thus the demand for agriculture, energy and space also rises. Every year, over 233,000 square kilometres of forest is harvested for human use, that's almost the same size of the state of Colorado, America. This deforestation is a big worry to researchers all over the world, they believe that such rapid increases in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (due to the 'slash and burn' method and less plants and trees absorbing the carbon dioxide) could accelerate the effects of global warming and ultimately transform the biome we once called the 'tropical rainforest.
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The rainforest harbour 50% of the worlds biodiversity and we're destroying their homes at a rate of 2% each year, at this speed, we only have about forty years left before it's all gone. Furthermore, about 137 species of plants and animals are lost due to deforestation, plants that could cure you or your child from a life threatening disease like cancer. Have a think about it.
Below is a video timelapse of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest:
Below is a video timelapse of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest: